It was certainly a whirlwind of a day today, with no gaps between confessions, proskomedia, Liturgy and the baptism of little Ilarion, whom we welcomed together with his mum, babushka and older sister whom we baptised in the Little Oratory four years ago. It was quite a journey for them, as they live in Taunton, but given the journeys of parishioners from other places in England, these days, it was not quite as unusual as it was in the past.
To have so many for confession over the last few days, and so many communicants was a great blessing, and we congratulate all who partook of the Most Pure Mysteries. Поздравление с причастием святых христовых тайн!
Sadly, I was unable to get a chance to talk to anyone other than those who came to confession, but I hope that next Sunday will be rather more leisurely, allowing the clergy time with the faithful.
As well as thanking everyone who laboured for the joy and beauty of the service, I would like to thank those who stayed to help with the baptism, with the onerous task of bucketing water in and out of the church.
We look forward to next Saturday, when James will be baptised in Chippenham, in honour of our Venerable Father St James the Faster.
Confessions will be heard before Friday’s catechesis session in the Church of St Mary the Virgin, in Butetown. Catechesis will commence at 19:00, and confession times will depend on numbers. Please email me by Wednesday: otetzmark@hotmail.com
Next Sunday will be the commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council and St Ambrose of Optina. The variables may be found here:
As things begin to get back to normal for me, I would like to thank parishioners for their prayers, good wishes and a plentiful supply of baked goods and pirozhki. The priest will never starve!
The Canon to St Michael, First Metropolitan of Kiev, in Tone VI.
Ode I, Irmos: When Israel walked on foot in the sea as on dry land, * on seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drowned, * they cried: * Let us sing to God * a song of victory.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Standing with the choirs of the saints of heaven before the throne of the Most High, as a hierarch and servant of God, pray for us who serve with divinely inspired hymns, that we may stand with thee where the gladness of the righteous is.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
As one chosen by the Lord for the service of His glory in the work of the Gospel of Christ, O holy hierarch Michael, pray for us who have assembled for thy memorial, that we may labour in the commandments of the Gospel and may receive as our reward the gladness of the venerable.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Standing like a candle upon a candlestick, thou didst shine far and wide with the light of thy good works, O father, for by thine instruction the light of the vision of God illumined the unbelieving people, and the land enlightened by thee
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In that thou art she who from thy womb hath revealed to the world the true Light, enlighten and direct upon the way us who walk in the darkness of the passions, O Mary Bride of God, who gavest birth to the Way for the human race.
Ode III, Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, * O Lord my God, * who hast exalted the horn of the faithful O Good One, * and strengthened us upon the rock * of Thy confession.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
The Faith was not planted nor piety rooted in Rus, O holy hierarch Michael, until thou, as a most wise husbandman, didst plough up the barren ground of polytheism, deepening the steadfast confession of the knowledge of God.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Illumined by light from on high, the great Vladimir, receiving thee like a radiant beam, O hierarch of God, brought thee to the land of Rus, which was darkened by idolatry, that there the people might be enlightened by thy coming and be brought to knowledge by thy confession of the steadfast Faith.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Christ God, the Sun of righteousness, revealed thee, O Michael, to the land of Rus as a ray of splendour, and, illumining it with the regeneration of the font of baptism, thou didst bring to the Master a new people, restored through the confession of the good Faith.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our true God, the Sun of righteousness, borrowing flesh from thee, O Virgin Mary, shone forth upon the world and utterly destroyed the darkness of polytheism. Illumine me with light, O Virgin Mary, who am darkened by despondency, and guide me to the path of goodly works.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Sessional Hymn, in Tone VIII: With the axe of the teaching of the Gospel thou didst fell the graven idols, and overthrowing their temples thou didst plant piety. And the city of Kiev, adorned therewith, crieth out to thee with love: Rejoice, O Michael, first enthroned of the hierarchs of Rus!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion, in Tone VIII: O thou who hast delivered from barbaric slavery those who chant unto thee “Rejoice!”, rescue us from slavery to the alien, root out idolatrous passions from our thoughts, and plant therein the right-mindedness of the fear of God; for thou art the cause, beginning and fulfilment of all that is good.
Ode IV, Irmos: Christ is my power, * my God and my Lord, * the holy Church divinely singeth, * crying with a pure mind, * keeping festival in the Lord.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Sensing thee, the servant of Christ and steward of piety, O holy hierarch, the idols bitterly lamented their destruction; but the people, renewed through baptism, were filled with gladness, celebrating a splendid festival in the Lord.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
When thou, O father, didst arrive at the mountains of Kiev, Perun, the foremost idol, was cast down and dragged away by horses, and the rest of the graven images trembled with fear. But the people chanted, celebrating the day of their regeneration.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
People of every age and gender, who before were darkened, came to the River Dnieper for enlightenment, a countless multitude with thee at its head. And having administered to them the laver of regeneration, thou didst guide them to the knowledge of God, O Michael, holy hierarch of God.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All generations call thee blessed O Mary our Queen, and we, blessing thee with hymns, bow down before thy countenance, depicted upon thine icon, and celebrate a splendid feast in memory of thy holy hierarch.
Ode V, Irmos: Illumine with Thy divine light, I pray, O Good One, * the souls of those who with love rise early to pray to Thee, * that they may know Thee, O Word of God, * as the true God, * Who recalleth us from the darkness of sin.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
The newly-baptized people, illumined by the light of God, cried out with thee, O Michael: O Christ God, grant that we may behold Thee alone, the Word of God, Who dost rescue us from the darkness of the madness of idolatry!
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
When Joshua son of Nun bore the ark around the walls of Jericho, they tumbled down; and when thou camest forth with the Cross, O holy hierarch, the idols likewise fell. And the people glorified Thee, the Word of God, O Christ, who dost rescue mankind from the darkness of unbelief.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Clothed by thee through the font of baptism, the city of Kiev is adorned even to this day, O holy hierarch; and it beareth upon its shoulders the precious Gospel of Christ, as it were coins of gold. And we, kissing it, glorify the Word of God Who hath rescued us from the darkness of sin.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We are all adorned by thy beauty, O Mary Bride of God, for thou art truly beauteous. And desiring thy beauty, the Most High united Himself to thy flesh: God became a man, for thy sake deifying us who had fallen into corruption, O pure Virgin.
Ode VI, Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, * I run to Thy calm haven, and cry to Thee: * Raise up my life from corruption, * O greatly Merciful One.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Like Moses thou didst cut through the fetid sea of the madness of idolatry with the staff of the Cross, O hierarch Michael; and cleansing the people with the water of the vision of God, thou hast led into harbour those who chant: Glory to Thee, O greatly merciful Christ!
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
The land of Rus, which of old had gone astray and was not established in the Faith, hath now come to the vision of God, guided by thee, O hierarch Michael; and having received the ring of adoption, it rejoiceth, crying aloud: Glory to Thee, O my greatly merciful Christ!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having subdued in the land of Rus the people who raged in their unbelief and imposed upon them the yoke of obedience to the Church, O Michael, thou didst bring many labourers to the vineyard of the heavenly Master. Make us also wise husbandmen, O holy one, for we offer thee praise this day.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Tame thou the passions which rage within me, and impose upon me the yoke of humility, O Theotokos, that I may labour the rest of my days therein and find mercy on the day of judgment.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, tone II: Thou wast shown to be a second Moses for Rus, O father, * bearing the noetic grapes from the Egypt of idolatry * to the land foreseen by prophecy, which said: * The Faith will be established in this land, * and on the peaks of the mountains of Kiev will the Fruit which nourisheth the whole world * be exalted higher than Lebanon! ** And tasting thereof, we bless thee, O Michael, thou hierarch of God.
Ikos: Having brought the scattered people together into one understanding of the vision of God, and washed away by baptism the old blindness of the land of Rus, thou didst illumine it by the Cross. And having taught it to glorify the most holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the most Holy Spirit, thou didst make it a reason-endowed flock of Christ God, and standing with faith before Him to this day, it crieth out: Deliver from every evil circumstance the city and people who bless thee, O Michael, thou hierarch of God!
Ode VII, Irmos: An Angel made the furnace bedew the holy children. * But the command of God consumed the Chaldeans * and prevailed upon the tyrant to cry: * O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
By thee, O holy hierarch, was Rus washed with the dew-giving water of grace, and the scales fell away from its noetic eyes in the holy font. It recognised the one Creator, and crieth out with faith: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
When thou wast filled with gladness after baptism, O city of Kiev, the abominable idols lamented. And the idol Perun, which was the first of them to be dragged away, cried out bitterly. Wherefore, the people, acknowledging their former error, cried out with thee, O Michael: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Placing the golden ring of the new grace upon the hand of Rus, O hierarch Michael, thou didst betroth her, the Church of the nations, as a pure bride unto Christ. And spiritually rejoicing to this day, she crieth aloud: O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O pure Virgin, we call thee the golden ring, adorned as with a precious diamond by Christ’s union with the flesh. Wherefore, we cry out with love: Blessed art thou alone, whose Son is the God of our fathers!
Ode VIII, Irmos: Thou didst make flame bedew the holy children, * and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man with water. * For Thou alone, O Christ, dost do all as Thou willest, * Thee do we supremely exalt throughout all ages.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Snatching the land of Rus land from the flame of the deception of idolatry, O most wise one, thou didst bedew it with the dew of baptism, and it no longer yearneth to return to its old ways, but supremely exalteth Christ and thee, its pastor, throughout the ages.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Disposing all things well for the newly-elect people, thou didst ordain pastors and teachers for the cities; and having thereby made provision for the newly-chosen flock, thou thyself didst depart unto Christ God, the Chief Shepherd, to reign with Him throughout the ages.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Much weeping and lamentation didst thou cause the city of Kiev by thy departure, O father; but the Jerusalem on high, taking thee to its bosom, rejoiced. And living there, forget not thy flock, but pray that it may dwell with thee throughout the ages.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Much gladness and joy do I cause the demons by my evil deeds, and thus much grief also to my guardian. O pure Mary, Mother of Christ God, guide me to repentance, that they may weep and mine angel may find joy, and me with him throughout the ages.
Ode IX, Irmos: It is impossible for mankind to see God * upon Whom the orders of Angels dare not gaze; * but through thee, O all-pure one, * did the Word Incarnate become a man * and with the Heavenly Hosts * Him we magnify and thee we call blessed.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Like a palm-tree didst thou flourish in the house of God, O father, and thou didst show forth the incorruption of thy relics like fruit unto all; wherefore, we the people, understanding from this that thou standest before Christ, magnify thee with hymns.
Holy Hierarch, Michael, pray to God for us.
Like a fragrant cedar dost thou spread thy perfume, O holy hierarch, and delightest those who bow down before thee. Fill us also with the sweet savour of thy prayers, for we magnify thy memory with hymns.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
We magnify the choir of the holy hierarchs of Rus and the council of those who love the feasts of the Church. Haste ye together to the holy cave, ye pastors of the Chief Shepherd! Ye people, with us honour your father with hymns! For today we magnify his memory.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
All creation hymneth thee, O Virgin, as her who passed through all the gates of heaven and standeth at the right hand of the fiery throne. Grant that we also may stand at the right hand of thy Son, for with hymns do we magnify thee and Him Who was born of thee.
Troparion, in Tone IV: Today hath the prophecy of the first-called apostle been fulfilled, * for, lo! on these mountains grace hath shone forth and the faith hath increased. * And those who had grown old through unbelief have found rebirth * through the divine font and became a renewed people, * a holy priesthood, a hallowed nation, the flock of Christ. * And thou wast shown to be His first pastor, * in that thou didst first serve Him by baptism. * Standing now before Christ God the Master, * pray thou that all the children of Rus may be saved; * for thou art possessed of boldness, ** as a hierarch and sacred minister of God.
I would like to thank all who contributed to Sunday’s Liturgy, in which we had the joy of welcoming sisters from Cheltenham and Bristol.
It was lovely to have George and Oswald back from Greece, where – together with Alexander – they bought the parish a beautiful icon of the holy wonderworkers of Evia: Saints David, Iakovos and John the Russian. We will sort a kiot in which to place the icon for veneration at next Sunday’s Liturgy.
It was a joy and a relief to be able to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, after two weeks of simply communing from the reserved Holy Gifts, especially as it was the feast of the repose of St John the Theologian. Being able to honour St John in a sanctuary dedicated to his memory was a great blessing.
Having celebrated the dedication of St John’s, we look forward to our own altar feast less than a month away, when will celebrate the Divine Liturgy in St Mary Butetown on the day itself – 4thNovember, New Style – chanting the Hours at 10:30, with the Liturgy following at 11:00. We will also continue our celebration the feast the following Sunday, when we can all be together in St John’s, and I hope that we can coordinate food for a suitably festal parish lunch that day.
This coming Friday we are sadly unable to celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Protecting Veil due to lack of somewhere to liturgize, but we will chant a moleben in honour of the feast in St Mary’s Church at 19:00 in the evening, followed by a spiritual talk, rather than catechesis.
I will also hear confessions on Friday and requests should reach me by Wednesday evening. May I ask anyone both confessing and coming to the service to indicate this, as I hope to have afternoon confessions for anyone not staying in the evening.
Sadly, I must raise one negative issue, after several complaints from parishioners regarding talking during services, with this being a matter ofrepeatoffenders.
Several people were talking during the moleben to St John, and it often transpires that some parishioners fail to understand that our Sunday worship is already under way with the commencing of the Hours. This is the payer of the Church, not a window for socialising until the ‘real’ service starts.
The matter is very simple…
We chant, ‘Let us lay aside all earthly cares.’ If you are unwilling to do this whilst in Church, you are in the wrong place at this time on a Sunday.
I look forward to next Sunday’s Liturgy, after which there will be a baptism at 14:00 – our third child baptism in the last month, with several more baptisms of rather older people yet to come.
Greetings as we celebrate the memory of our Venerable Father, Sergei, the Wonderworker of Radonezh, the “Abbot of All Russia”, cherished among our monastic saints, with his shrine in the Trinity-St Sergius Lavra as the visible sign of his place in the piety, spirituality, faith and hearts of the Russian Orthodox faithful.
Egypt had St Athony the Great and the God-bearing fathers of the Thebaid; Palestine had St Savas; Athos had St Athanasius the Athonite; Kievan Rus had Saints Anthony and Feodosy; and as the father of Muscovite monasticism St Sergei embodies the ascetic life of the forested desert to which he and his brother monastics fled to escape the world and climb to heaven, becoming earthly-angels and heavenly men.
All of the venerable fathers and mothers call us to the struggle of Christian living, in as much the podvig they embraced should be reflected in the lives of ALL Christians: non-acquisitiveness, stability, prayer, fasting, continence and watchfulness of body, mind and soul.
Their lives were a prism that focussed the characteristics that should be manifest in our own lives, in which we too, like them, should struggle so that the likeness of Christ might not only be restored in us, but touch the world with the light and life that finds its origin in Him Who is our eternal Light and Life.
Across the centuries, across borders, languages and cultures, St Sergei calls us all to holiness, which is the calling of all who have been baptised into Christ. With him and all of the saints, let us put on Christ: alleluia.
Venerable and God-bearing Father, Sergei, pray to God for us!
The canon of the Forerunner, the composition of John of Damascus, in Tone VI:
Ode I, Irmos: When Israel walked on foot in the sea as on dry land, * on seeing their pursuer Pharaoh drowned, * they cried: * Let us sing to God * a song of victory.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
O offspring of the barren woman: uproot thou the barren thoughts of my barren soul, as I begin to praise thy holy conception in thy mother’s womb.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
The sacred Zechariah, entering the temple, beheld the divine angel, who manifestly proclaimed to him: O priest, in thine old age thou shalt receive a son, the Forerunner.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The great Forerunner, the radiant beacon of the Sun of glory, is conceived to shine forth in his mother’s womb, by whom the darkness of the passions hath been rent asunder and the bonds of barrenness have been loosed.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Perceiving the Master borne in thy womb, O most pure Theotokos, John, as His Forerunner, manifestly leapt for joy in his mother’s womb.
Ode III, Irmos: There is none as holy as Thou, * O Lord my God, * who hast exalted the horn of The faithful O good One, * and strengthened us upon the rock * of Thy confession.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
Today the barren one conceiveth the sacred fruit, who in later times will cut down all the barrenness of souls with grace, the noetic axe.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
Having been struck dumb within the temple, the great Zechariah receiveth the yoke of the Word by an awesome announcement, and radiantly magnified the compassionate Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The glorious Forerunner, who hath shown the faithful the firm path of repentance, by divine counsel surpassing hope hath at the angel’s command sprung forth in his mother’s womb.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
As he who was born of the barren woman perceived Christ borne in the Virgin’s womb, he leapt up, heralding the Joy which had come into the world, delivering all from grief.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Sessional Hymn, in Tone IV: From heaven Gabriel came down and stood before the sacred Zechariah as he was censing in the temple; and he said unto him: “In thine old age thou shalt bear a right glorious fruit, and the former sterility of Elisabeth shall now straightway be loosed, and the barren one shall give birth. And having conceived, she shall bear the Forerunner and herald of Jesus.” By their entreaties, O Savior of the world, save Thou our souls. (Twice)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Theotokion, Tone IV: O pure and all-immaculate one who knewest not wedlock, thou who alone hast given birth in time to the timeless Son and Word of God: with the holy and honorable apostles, martyrs and prophets, and the venerable, do thou beseech Him to grant us cleansing and great mercy.
Ode IV, Irmos: Christ is my power, * my God and my Lord, * the holy Church divinely singeth, * crying with a pure mind, * keeping festival in the Lord.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
O blessed Forerunner, the voice of the angel proclaimed thee in a sacred manner to the priest as the herald of the coming of Christ, who wast to spring forth from a barren womb.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
O barren one, who before wast childless and hadst not given birth, be thou now glad, for all-gloriously wilt thou bring forth as fruit the Baptist and Forerunner, O right wondrous Elisabeth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Forerunner, with the axe of thy prayer hew down the thorns of my passions and remove the stumbling block of mine evil thoughts; and by thy virtues render my mind fertile, O all-blessed one.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
The womb of the Virgin held Thee Who holdest all things, O Christ; and when the Baptist, borne in his mother’s womb, worshipped Thee, he rejoiced, leaping up.
Ode V, Irmos: Illumine with Thy divine light, I pray, O Good One, * the souls of those who with love rise early to pray to Thee, * that they may know Thee, O Word of God, * as the true God, * Who recalleth us from the darkness of sin.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
To the prophet who entered the sanctuary and was offering up to the Creator the services of the Law, the holy angel appeared, announcing the divine conception of the Forerunner.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
“How can this happen to me, for I am an old man, as thou seest, and I have a barren wife?” Zechariah said to the archangel. “Thou dost utter to me words which are contrary to nature!”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“Look at Sarah, the wife of Abraham, and behold how she brought forth Isaac in her old age, O man; and believe thou those things which have been justly spoken,” the great angel exhorted the elder.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
“Blessed art thou among women, O thou who art full of the joy of God,” Elisabeth manifestly cried to thee when she knew thee to be her who would give birth without having known a man, her who alone would remain incorrupt after giving birth.
Ode VI, Irmos: Beholding the sea of life surging with the tempest of temptations, * I run to Thy calm haven, and cry to Thee: * Raise up my life from corruption, * O greatly Merciful One.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
“My thoughts are filled with doubt, and I shall not believe thy words,” the priest said to the archangel, “for I am asking for the salvation of the people, not for the fruit of my loins.”
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
“The Creator of nature, the King of angels, hath been well pleased that thou give birth unto the herald of His own coming,” the ministering angel replied; “Do not disbelieve my words, O man!”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
“Fiery is thine aspect, awesome thy visage, and wondrous thy discourse,” said Zechariah to the servant of God; “yet I will not believe thee who utterest words strange to me, and which surpass nature!”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
In the dark abode of the womb, the lamp of the Sun offered worship and leapt up, rejoicing, recognizing the One concealed in the cloud of His Mother’s womb.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone I: Rejoice with splendor, O great Zechariah * and all-glorious Elisabeth, his spouse, * in conceiving John the Forerunner as is meet, * whom the archangel announced, rejoicing. * O ye mortals, let us right worthily honor him ** as the initiate of the mystery of grace.
Ikos: Let us open the hallowed Gospel which the sacred and wondrous Luke hath recorded for us, and let us behold the radiant and honorable conception of the Forerunner. For he saith that, as the righteous elder Zechariah entered into the Holy of Holies to cense when it was his turn so to do, Gabriel stood before him, proclaiming and saying: “O priest, in thine old age thou shalt have a son, the prophet and Forerunner, the voice and herald, the ever-radiant beacon and initiate of the mysteries of grace!”
Ode VII, Irmos: An Angel made the furnace bedew the holy Children. * But the command of God consumed the Chaldeans * and prevailed upon the tyrant to cry: * O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
“Since thou dost not believe my words, receive thou manifest muteness; and when thou shalt see the voice of the Word born, receive again thy voice, crying out: ‘Blessed art Thou, O God of Israel!’“
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
As radiant as the sun, Zechariah, cleaving unto Elisabeth, the moon, begat the light-bearing beacon of the Light, which shineth upon us who are cruelly held fast in the darkness of the passions.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Using leaps instead of words, the great Forerunner worshipped Thee in the Virgin’s womb, O Christ Jesus, while he himself was borne in the womb of Elisabeth. O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou!
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Elisabeth, the moon, bearing within herself a star, the divine Forerunner, bowed down before Mary, the radiant cloud, who was bearing Christ, the Sun, Who had taken flesh of her for our salvation.
Ode VIII, Irmos: Thou didst make flame bedew the holy children, * and didst burn the sacrifice of a righteous man with water. * For Thou alone, O Christ, dost do all as Thou willest, * Thee do we supremely exalt throughout all ages.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
The friend of the Bridegroom hath been prepared; the voice of the Word receiveth his beginning; the great warrior of the King of all is now nourished in the womb of the barren one.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
A husbandman hath come forth to tend barren hearts; an axe is already forged to fell the passions; an honorable bullock is nurtured on abstinence: the great Forerunner. Be glad, O ye people!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Break thou the stoniness of my mind, O Forerunner, as of old thou didst loose the bonds of the barren woman; and cause me to increase the fruits of repentance that I may live forever.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
As Elisabeth beheld thee pregnant, O Maiden, she rejoiced in a godly manner, while within her the babe leapt as he recognized his Master.
Ode IX, Irmos: It is impossible for mankind to see God * upon Whom the orders of Angels dare not gaze; * but through thee, O all-pure one, * did the Word Incarnate become a man * and with the Heavenly Hosts * Him we magnify and thee we call blessed.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
Now having thrown wide the gate of the barren one, the great and divine Forerunner of Christ taketh up his abode within his mother’s womb, as within a royal chamber, that he may issue forth as a warrior, preparing the way for the King of all.
Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
Dance thou, O prophet of God and elder, for thou shalt bring forth a son, of whom none greater shall arise among mankind: John, the Forerunner of the Lord! Leap up, O Elisabeth! Rejoice, all the earth, and offer praise to God, the Creator of all!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O prophet and Forerunner of the Lord, remember us now who praise thee in faith, and deliver us from spiritual passions. Save us from misfortunes, and guide us in a godly manner along the path to heaven, O ever-blessed one.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen
Sensing herself loosed of the bonds of barrenness and bearing the Forerunner of Him Who dwelt within thy womb, Elisabeth manifestly acknowledged thee to be the pure Mother, O pure Virgin Mary, full of the joy of God.
Such is the importance of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, that the Church even celebrates his conception, as we do today on the Patristic Calendar.
Within the unfolding of the history of salvation, as determined and willed by Almighty God, and revealed by the prophets, St John’s life and ministry was a necessary prelude to the Incarnation, the Saviour’s earthly life, the preaching of the Gospel, and His voluntary and life-giving cross, passion, death and resurrection.
Through the prophets, God had announced that the herald and teacher of repentance would prepare the way for the Messiah, and in this feast of his conception we celebrate the very beginning of the life of the “Friend of the Bridegroom”, and this feast reinforces the moral and spiritual truth:
HUMAN LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION…
That small cluster of human cells within the womb of the righteous Elizabeth, was not impersonal and arbitrary, but the very human life that would be the herald of our salvation. He – not it – already had an identity and already had the God-chosen name that St Zachariah would write on a tablet and that every generation would celebrate before all other men.
“HIS NAME IS JOHN”.
Wishing you a blessed and holy feast, with the hope that you will be able do something to honour the Forerunner, such as chanting a canon or akathist – or simply turning to him in prayer with your own words.
Holy, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist, John, pray to God for us.
May God bless you.
In Christ – Fr Mark
The holy Prophet Malachi prophesied that before the Messiah’s birth His Forerunner would appear, and would indicate His coming. The Jews therefore in awaiting the Messiah also awaited the appearance of His Forerunner.
In a city of the hills of Judea in the land of Palestine lived the righteous priest Saint Zachariah and his wife Saint Elizabeth, zealously observing the commandments of the Lord. The couple, however, had a misfortune: they remained childless in their old age, and they prayed unceasingly to God to grant them a child.
Once, when Saint Zachariah took his turn as priest at the Temple of Jerusalem, he went into the Sanctuary to offer incense. Going behind the veil of the Sanctuary, he beheld an angel of God standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
Saint Zachariah was astonished and halted in fear, but the angel said to him, “Fear not, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” But Zachariah did not believe the words of the heavenly messenger, and then the angel said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you the good news. Behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words….”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zachariah and they were astonished that he had not come out from the Sanctuary after so long a time. And when he did come out, he was supposed to pronounce a blessing upon the people, but could not do so because he had been struck speechless. When Zachariah explained by gestures that he was unable to speak, the people then understood that he had experienced a vision. The prophecy of the Archangel was fulfilled, and Righteous Elizabeth was delivered from her barrenness, and gave birth to John, the Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord.
Even though today only saw the celebration of the Hours, Typika/Obednitsa with Holy Communion, and a moleben before the veneration of the Cross, and no Divine Liturgy, I must admit that it felt so different to last week’s similar liturgical scheme and was such a joyous gathering.
The festal nature of the Sunday after Exultation shone through our aggregate of services, with the chanting of ‘Krestu Tvoyemu’, the veneration and ‘krestotselovanie’ and anointing with oil from Godenovo giving our services a profound spiritual focus.
Thanks are particularly due to matushka Alla for arranging the floral frame for the Cross at very short notice, and to our singers and readers. Thanks are also due to our sisters who provided such excellent home cooked food for trapeza.
We were very happy to congratulate Ludmilla Borisevna on her recent nameday, and I know that her sharlotka was greatly enjoyed by parishioners, and a wonderful autumnal addition to the celebration!
The half-marathon clearly failed to dissuade parishioners from getting to church today, and even though we were without our young pilgrims and a few other parishioners who have commitments elsewhere, there was still a good number of worshippers, and it was lovely to see such a social gathering during trapeza.
It was lovely to have Father Luke and Swansea parishioners with us, and we are very grateful for help with confessions. This made a tremendous difference, and we always value this assistance with the Holy Mysteries.
The appearance of Oswald, fresh from the coach from London, after his return journey from Greece was most welcome, and he has now reactivated his eBay icon-shop, after our having the stock at St John’s and selling icons after Liturgy for the last few weeks.
As I sit typing this greeting, in Glastonbury, the Saviour of the Burning-Eye, bought from his lavka today is the focus of my prayers and a most welcome and powerful addition to my ‘travelling icon-corner’.
I hope that icons will continue to be available after Liturgy.
The afternoon saw the baptism of Maxim, who was our first child to desperately want to go back into the font, though last Sunday it was clear at little Pavel’s baptism that four years after his own, Yuriy would have happily done the same! We pray for the newly enlightened Maxim, and for Yevgeniy and Maria his sponsors. May God grant them many blessed years.
I shall be in Glastonbury for a few days of prayer and quiet, having already felt the benefit in just four hours. This is, of course, a place central to the coming of the Gospel to Britain and was the first and most important monastery of these islands. Despite the nonsense and sinister practices that go on here now, it is important that we value the local sacred sights and pray and worship here as Christians grounded in the continuance of the apostolic Church. Saints of Glastonbury, pray to God for us!
Thanks to Father Deacon Mark for dropping me here on his journey to Devon, and thanks to Nataliya for dispatching me with a box of pirozhky for tea.
Again, we will schedule confessions for Saturday, and we greatly look forward to the resumption of the Divine Liturgy. As I said before Holy Communion, remembering the impossibility of Liturgy for so many people during the Soviet period, let us never take it for granted, and thank God for every day that is blessed by the celebration of the Holy Mysteries.
Please email requests for confession by 22:00 on Wednesday, please.
May God bless you all, and I ask you to continue to remember me in your prayers, rejoicing that they are being answered by the All-Merciful Lord.
Even though I am happy to say that my blood-pressure is much lower and my health situation is improving, I do not feel the celebration of the Divine Liturgy is yet possible, so this weekend will see a repeat of last weekend’s liturgical arrangements.
Again, we will begin at 11:00 and celebrate the Hours and Typika (Obednitsa), with Communion administered from the reserved Holy Gifts. I hope that subsequently, after a second week of rest, we will return to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
I am very grateful to all of who have sent messages over the last week, and even more to those who have been praying for my health, including our young men on pilgrimage in Greece. May God bless you all!
Sunday will see major disruption to transport, as so many roads will be closed for the Cardiff half-marathon, so please consult the map at the following link:
As we celebrate this feast of the holy martyrs Sophia, Vera, Nadezhda and Liubov, we have so many sisters to congratulate as they celebrate their nameday.
We send our greetings to Sophia in Mumbles; to Sophia of our cathedral sisterhood; to Vera Alexandrovna, our cathedral starosta; to Nadia in Swansea; to Masha’s daughter Nadja; to ‘mama Liuba’ Cheltenham; and to Liuba in Father Paul’s parish.
We pray for God’s blessing, and that He may grant them ‘Many Years!’
Многая и благая лтѣа!
In the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138) there lived a widow called Sophia which in Greek means “wisdom”. She was a Christian, and in accordance with her name, she lived her life wisely. She had three beautiful daughters whom she called by the names of the three Christian virtues: the first was called Faith, the second Hope, and the youngest Love. She taught her daughters to live in u way pleasing to God by prayer, fasting and helping the poor. As the children grew in age, so also they grew in virtue, being obedient to their mother, They read diligently and knew well the books of the Prophets and Apostles; they were fervent in prayer and house-work. Their beauty combined with their virtuous lives attracted the attention of many.
When the fame of their lives reached the pagan Emperor Hadrian, he sent for them to come to him. The wise mother warned her daughters that the Emperor persecuted Christians and would tempt them to worship the pagan idols by promising them great gifts, riches and honor and all the things of beauty and pleasure in this vain world She begged them to choose rather their beloved Lord Jesus Christ and the heavenly beauty such as human eyes have never seen and which God has promised to those who love Him. “0 my dear daughters,” she said, “to remember my words with which I taught you the fear of God and comfort your mother in her old age by your good and courageous confession of faith in Christ.” Encouraging and supporting one another, they promised their mother that with Christ’s help they would put into practice all her valuable advice
When the Emperor’s servants came for them, all four-mother and daughters-protected themselves with the sign of the Cross saying: “Help us,. O God, our Saviour, for the glory of Thy holy Name.”
On reaching the palace, they were presented to the Emperor. Seeing their beauty and their bright and fearless faces, the Emperor began to ask them their names, they answered that they were all Christians and wished to live for Christ alone Who is to be worshipped by all generations.
Hearing this, the Emperor grew angry. Just as the mother had warned he asked the girls to be as his children and worship his gods, promising them glory and honor; but if they would not obey he threatened to torture and kill them. The holy virgins answered him with one voice:
“Our Father is God Who lives in heaven. He takes care of us and our life. We want to be loved by Him and we wish to be called His true children. Worshipping Him and keeping His laws and commandments, we spit on your gods, and we are not afraid of your threats.”
The Emperor was very surprised at the courage of these young girls. At this time Faith was 12 years old, Hope was 10, and Love was just 9
The Emperor again tried to force them to worship his false gods. He commanded Faith to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. When she refused she was beaten and tortured. Faith endured all of this evil bravely by calling upon her Lord, and when she was put in a cauldron of boiling tar and oil she remained unharmed. She sat in it as if it were cool water and sang praises to God. Seeing that no amount of torture could force the girl to give up her faith in Christ, the cruel Emperor ordered her to be beheaded before the very eyes of her mother and younger sisters.
When the second sister Hope also refused to worship the false gods, she was thrown into a fire, but she too remained unharmed and glorified the true God. The torturer was furious that he could not hurt her and ordered her to be thrown into the boiling cauldron, but it at once melted like wax, and the tar and oil poured out and burnt the bystanders. Ashamed that he was unable to shake the faith of such a young girl, the torturer ordered Hope to be beheaded. Knowing that the same cruel torture awaited her younger sister, Hope encouraged her and said, “Do not be left here, sister. Let us stand together be- fore the Holy Trinity.” Then she bent her head and was beheaded with a sword.
When the torturer called the youngest sister, Love, to worship the false gods, she also, even after seeing her sisters’ tortures, did not hesitate to confess her faith in Jesus Christ. She was ordered to be thrown into a stove, but just like the three youths in the Old Testament, Love remained in the stove unharmed; walking about as if in a cool place, singing and praising God. The Emperor ordered still more cruel tortures, but the young girl proved true to her name for love “endureth all things” (I Cor 13:7). Finally, she too was beheaded and went to join her sisters who stood before the throne of their beloved Lord Jesus Christ.
Their mother rejoiced, knowing that each of her daughters had received a heavenly crown. Soon she too passed on to the Lord and shared with her daughters in the heavenly kingdom. St. Sophia also received a martyr’s crown, for, if not in body, at least in her heart, she too suffered for Christ.
We congratulate our parishioner Ludmilla Borisevna on her nameday as we celebrate the feast of her heavenly patron, praying that God will grant her Many Blessed Years!
Многая и благая лтѣа!
The Holy Martyr Ludmilla, a Czech (Bohemian) princess, was married to the Czech prince Borivoy. Both spouses received holy Baptism from Saint Methodius, Archbishop of Moravia and Enlightener of the Slavs (Comm. 11 May).
As Christians, they showed concern for the enlightening of their subjects with the light of the true Faith, they built churches and invited priests to celebrate the divine services. Prince Borivoy died early at age 36. Saint Ludmilla, as a widow, led an austere, pious life and continued to be concerned for the Church during the reign of her son Bratislav, which lasted for 33 years.
Bratislav was married to Dragomira, with whom he had a son, Vyacheslav. After the death of Bratislav, eighteen-year-old Vyacheslav came on the throne. Taking advantage of the inexperience and youth of her son, Dragomira began to introduce pagan manners and customs in the country.
Saint Ludmilla, of course, opposed this. Dragomira came to hate her mother-in-law and tried to destroy her. When Saint Ludmilla moved away to the city of Techin, Dragomira sent two boyars in secret to murder her. Saint Ludmilla was praying at the time, and the two assassins entered the house and carried out Dragomira’s orders.
The relics of the holy Martyr Ludmilla was buried in Techin in the city wall. Numerous healings occurred at her grave. Prince Vyacheslav transferred the body of Saint Ludmilla to the city of Prague and placed it in the church of Saint George.
